All institutions in which productive and legitimate service is done are highly valued in the Bible as long as the purpose is accomplished in ways that glorify God.
In the past generation, working for the church has become synonymous with a career in the service of God. Some Christians even believed that a career in commercial business was contrary to the Bible. Others felt that it was in complete agreement with biblical principles.
How should Christians view a career in the commercial sector? Is working for a commercial company something we should encourage Christians to do? In this article, we will raise these two questions by taking a biblical perspective on market activity. We'll start with creation.
CREATION AND SATURDAY
Although the central theme of Scripture is our relationship with God, the material side of life takes its rightful place in the Bible. Work that brings satisfaction from God-given material blessings is a legitimate endeavor; however, the material side of life cannot be separated from spirituality, as can be seen in the connection between God's creation and the Sabbath.
Creation lays the foundation for our concept of wealth, whether we work in the commercial, non-profit or government sectors. At creation, God created all materials for the acquisition of wealth. He created human beings independent of each other and of environment. He asked people to both possess the land and take care of the land as faithful servants (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15). The reason is that God is the owner of everything material. He commissioned people to work on His behalf on this earth. Our attitude towards these resources and the people with whom we share them - all this happens in the face of the One to whom we owe all this.
God said of this material world “very well” (Genesis 1:31). God's original plan included humans working in the material world (Genesis 2:15). And yet, the greatest purpose of the work, paradoxically as it may sound, was not to accumulate economic value earned by the production and sale of material property, but above all to enter into rest with God. The weekly Sabbath, as a foreshadowing of God's covenant of grace, is inseparable from the commission to work. With the Sabbath rest, we show our allegiance to God by resting from the pursuit of material possessions. The Sabbath was created partly as a barrier to materialism, but sin has corrupted the human experience of work and the Sabbath. The work became hard and burdensome. The workers needed a rest not only from the tiring hard work, but also from the fierce battle for survival. Moreover, the Sabbath is needed as a constant reminder that confidence in our work should not replace trust in God.
TESTAMENT, SHALOM AND BLESSINGS
In His wisdom, God knew about negative impact sin. God's covenant of grace, proposed immediately after the appearance of sin (Genesis 3:15) and then constantly repeated in Scripture, is a covenant that applies to all aspects of life—spiritual, physical, social, political, economic, and so on. Under the influence of sin, the natural human tendency has become to turn something good into something selfish. Just as work became hard, so work turned from a desire to accumulate material values into a source of fatigue (Proverbs 23:4-5). When God made a covenant with Moses, He reminded us of the importance of the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8). People saw the fruits of their own labor and, forgetting the significance of the Sabbath, began to rely on their own strength in achieving economic wealth.
The empowerment to accumulate wealth is described in the language of the covenant: “But that you remember the Lord your God, for he gives you the power to acquire wealth, in order to fulfill, as now, his covenant, which he confirmed with an oath to your fathers” (Deut. 8:18). The covenant was not just a promise of economic prosperity, but also a promise of a full covenant relationship with God, family, community, and all nations based on spiritual abundance. The meaning of such a full life is abundantly embraced in the concept of shalom (peace).
In covenant with God, the whole world would receive the blessings of peace in every aspect of life, including economic well-being. However, economic prosperity achieved outside of a covenant relationship with God is prosperity that takes a person in the opposite direction from God's plan.
BUSINESS PRINCIPLES IN THE BIBLE
The Bible has a lot of business advice. In Proverbs, Solomon especially advises us to watch our means of achieving material prosperity, since our economic future is uncertain (Proverbs 27:24-27). Pruning fruitful plants results in increased productivity (Leviticus 25:3,4; John 15:1,2). When growing grain, certain factors increase yield (Genesis 26:12; Matt. 13:8; 13:23; Mark 4:8; 4:20; 2 Cor. 9:6). It follows from this that the higher the yield, the more it is valued. As a result, it is unwise to use inefficient or useless technology. The use of technology must be wise in order to fully achieve the purpose of this technology, as it glorifies God (Proverbs 1:17, 24:27; Ecclesiastes 10:9,10).
The Bible also frowns on unproductive resources (see Deuteronomy 29:23; 2 Kings 2:19; Proverbs 26:7; Ezekiel 15:3-5; Luke 13:6,7; 14:35; Hebrews 6:8). When a resource becomes unproductive, the resource owner must fix the problem by making better use of that resource, or, if that is not possible, get rid of the unproductive resource and replace it with a productive one. The rationality of the principle of destroying unproductive means and replacing them with productive ones, in accordance with the wisdom of Solomon “there is a time to plant, and there is a time to uproot what is planted”, is justified in the event that property cannot be saved and becomes completely unproductive (Ecclesiastes 3:2. See also Matt. 3:10; Luke 3:9, 13:6,7). These business principles emphasize the spiritual norm that it is God who is the owner of all means of accumulation. material assets; and people are laborers together with God in the use of these resources. The earth, as well as everything on it, including technology used in commerce, must be holy and set apart for the service of God.
BUSINESS AS TECHNOLOGY
The Bible mentions hundreds of technologies used in business ventures. Nowhere in the Bible are these technologies or the goals they are intended to be criticized. God is interested in business technology. In biblical times, the technology of the merchant buying and selling goods was the decisive technology for profit. It was a system of weights and measurements used to calculate the value of buying and selling. Those involved in the business should consider their business technology and cash used in commerce as belonging to God, not only because He is the owner of all material things (1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 49:10; 103:24; Proverbs 16:11; Haggai 2:8), but also because business dealings in the market that involve the use of His funds for the benefit of the creatures He created must be carried out in a manner that honors Him and takes into account the interests of His society (Leviticus 1 9:35,36; Deuteronomy 25:13-15; Proverbs 11:1; 20:10,23; Ezekiel 45:10-12; Hosea 12:7; Micah 6:11). Thus, every work that people do using technology to advance their economic well-being is work with God and for God. When people develop inventions that promote justice, they are also advancing the work of the cause of God on earth. According to the same principle, it is an abomination to be dishonest with others when using technology.
JESUS AND THE MARKET
Jesus criticized the wealthy, money-loving Pharisees for their greed and unethical practices that made them rich, not for their wealth itself. He accepted dinner invitations from wealthy people and received resources from others who provided Him (Matthew 23:25; Luke 11:39; 16:14). Yet He warned people to beware of all kinds of greed (Luke 12:13-15). He advised the rich steward to sell everything he possessed and distribute to the poor, but He did not universal principle which everyone must follow (Luke 18:18-30). For example, when Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, received Jesus, he gave away half of his possessions to the poor. Jesus did not tell him to distribute the rest (Luke 19:1-10).
Jesus assisted the disciples in their trading (John 21:6-11). He used wealth, resources to accumulate wealth, and labor to accumulate wealth as illustrations of great spiritual truths. He never raised the question of whether it was right to own property. As a result of His miracles of healing, the sick and crippled not only recovered physically and spiritually, but were also restored to their ability to provide for themselves economically. There is an important tension here. Prosperity comes from the diligence and wisdom that come from our experience and the experience of trustworthy, God-fearing members of society whom we should listen to (Deuteronomy 8:10-20; 1 Chronicles 29:12; 2 Chronicles 1:11,12; Proverbs 3:13-20). The problem is that when wealth is achieved, people easily begin to rely on their wealth, and show ingratitude, moving away from God, who gave them the ability and resources to accumulate these material values with the help of the resources he created (Proverbs 11:28).
PROFESSIONS IN THE BIBLE
The Bible describes hundreds of occupations associated with all three sectors of the economy: commercial, non-profit, and government. In the Bible, all these professions are considered legitimate. The means by which a person could accumulate wealth in biblical times included land, precious metals, gems, animals, equipment, and crops that depended on sun and rain. Trading was expected, and even encouraged. Hiring workers was expected to increase productivity (Deuteronomy 24:14,156; Mark 1:20; Matthew 20:14,15). Not all people have the intention of giving glory to God for enriching them. entrepreneurial activity. Some get rich in an honest way, others in a dishonest way. But both the righteous and the unrighteous expect to gain wealth (Psalm 16:4; 36:16; 48:6,7; 51:9; 72:3; 72:12; 91:8; 108:8; 122:4; Matthew 5:44,45).
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became rich through sheep farming. Jesus himself worked in what was clearly a building business. Some of his students worked in the fishing industry. The apostle Paul was also no stranger to entrepreneurship. Although the Bible does not give us a description of all the details of his labor activity, it seems that he was trading in tents he made. He warned that the love of money is the root of evil (1 Timothy 6:9,10). While some merchants took advantage of defrauding others, people like Lydia are mentioned with respect, as they are associated with the ministry of a growing church.
SERVICE IN THE MARKET
Biblical service to others is a response to God's gifts given as a divine loan for the limited days of our lives, not a way to earn God's favor. Peter exhorted the early Christians to use their spiritual gifts to minister to one another in a way that represented the faithful management of God's grace. The reason for this is that whatever we do, regardless of the economic sector in which we operate, we bring glory and joy to God (1 Peter 4:8-11). Paul probably would have agreed with Peter when he similarly advised believers to work hard, for and in the name of Jesus, who is Lord, and not just for men (Colossians 3:17-23).
PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFIT
Scripture suggests that people will try to be as productive as possible. People are expected to be helpful, and if not, they are considered destructive (Proverbs 18:9; Titus 3:14). Hard, honest work brings an honest profit, although this profit is not always guaranteed. Some diligent workers may lack economic prosperity. In the Bible, both economic gain and economic loss are seen as gifts from God. However, people do not begin all the work of planting seeds and tending crops without expecting something good in return, something more than what they put into the process (Deuteronomy 20:6; Proverbs 27:18; 1 Corinthians 9:7). Thus, one measure of utility is comparing the value of what a person had before hard work with the value of what he received after work - the idea of income or profit (Proverbs 3:13,14; 15:27; Ecclesiastes 3:9; Jeremiah 6:13; 12:13). Profit is one of the indicators that those who have taken business decision are good stewards of resources entrusted to them by society or shared with it. Thus, without being preoccupied with profit, the faithful business professional at the same time listens to what information profit can convey about business operations.
While the idea of making a profit is not itself criticized in the Bible, making a profit in an unfair or dishonest way is condemned. Biblical prophets strongly opposed criminal business dealings in which the rich took advantage at the expense of the poor. The Bible also condemns the pursuit of prosperity through immoral and dishonest acts. In this respect, the biblical criticism of leaders who make wealth through injustice is directed against political and religious leaders as well as those whose primary job is commerce. Obviously, greed, fraud, and corruption are sins that plague not only those who work in commercial firms, but also those who work in non-profit and government organizations (Isaiah 1:23; Jeremiah 8:10; 22:27; Ezekiel 22:27,28; Amos 5:11; Micah 3:11).
CONCLUSION
How should a Christian view a career in the commercial sector? In short, a career in the lucrative sector is a career for God as long as it is a work for the benefit of others, as the work of good stewards of God's grace. Career life in the commercial world must be balanced with Sabbath life, where we consistently raise the economic limits of the Sabbath high in honor of the God who owns everything we work with.
Is work on commercial firm something we should encourage Christians to participate in? Undoubtedly! It is our duty to be good stewards of public resources. Honest profits earned through hard work, business development and the exchange of public resources should not be slandered, but, on the contrary, appreciated. Dishonest profits derived from profiting at the expense of others must be avoided at all costs. Moreover, employment in a legitimate business, in a commercial firm, is an opportunity for a Christian to exert a good influence, not only in supporting productive labor, but in changing the world of work where necessary; by encouraging others to seek periodic rest from the tough need to accumulate economic profits. This is one way that those in business can bring the Sabbath rest with them from Monday to Friday. Life, even working life, means more than possible material abundance, “for the life of a man does not depend on the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). All institutions in which productive and legitimate ministry is done are highly valued in the Bible as long as the purpose is achieved in ways that glorify God.
Michael. I. Kafferki (D.B.A., Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana) is Professor of Business and Management at Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee, USA. He is the author of six books, including Management: A Faith-Based Perspective (Pearson Education, Inc., 2012), the first undergraduate management textbook designed for use in Christian colleges and universities. Email: mcafferky (dog) southern.edu.
Translation by Oleg Litvinenko
Illustration: Quentin Metsis. Moneylender with his wife. 1514 Louvre.
Profession
“For even while we were with you, we gave you this command that if anyone does not want to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some walk among you disorderly, do no work, but, on the contrary, meddle in the affairs of others. But to such we command and exhort them in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in silence and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).
Professions Approved in the Bible
The profession of a Christian is a matter of paramount importance in his life. If he chooses the wrong profession (occupation), then an obstacle will be erected in the way of his further growth in the Lord. Thus, a Christian should carefully and carefully approach the choice of his occupation.
At the time of creation, God not only created man, but also made sure that man had an occupation. He appointed Adam and Eve to tend and keep the Garden of Eden. Thus, their job before the fall was that of a gardener.
After the fall, they had to work hard in order to have bread, because the earth was cursed because of them. This indicates that after the fall, man was ordained to be a farmer. God knows better than anyone that the best occupation for fallen mankind is farming.
Beginning in the fourth chapter of Genesis, we find that Cain worked the land while Abel, his brother, was tending the sheep. Thus, shepherding is added to the list of occupations, in addition to farming, and this is also acceptable to God.
As the population of the earth began to multiply, all kinds of artisans rose up: blacksmiths, coppersmiths, fabricators musical instruments and manufacturers of all kinds of tools. And by the time the Tower of Babel was built, there were already masons and carpenters. Although the Tower of Babel should not have been built, nevertheless, during that period of history, people learned how to build.
Beginning with the twelfth chapter of Genesis, we learn that God chose Abraham. And Abraham was a shepherd: he had many cattle and sheep. His grandson Jacob followed his grandfather in choosing his occupation - he also herded cattle.
Later we find that the people of Israel in Egypt made bricks for Pharaoh. The people were masons. But when they left Egypt, God gave them two blessings: one was to look after the herds of cattle, and the other was to cultivate the land of Canaan, which flowed with milk and honey. The fact that it took two people to carry one bunch of grapes clearly indicates the work of agriculture. God warned the people that if they rebelled against Him and worshiped idols, He would make the heavens like brass and the soil like iron, and the earth would thus not produce a harvest; this is further evidence that the main occupations of the people in the promised land of Canaan were farming and pastoralism. Above are the various God-approved professions as seen in the Old Testament.
But what about the main activities mentioned in the New Testament? From the parables spoken by the Lord Jesus, we see that farming and cattle breeding are again the main ones - Matthew 13, the parable of the sower; Matthew 20, the parable of the vineyard; Luke 17, the servant who serves his master at the table after he has plowed or looked after the sheep; and John 10 - The Lord is like a good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.
When the Lord called His twelve apostles, most of them were fishermen. If one of them was a tax collector, the Lord required that such a person leave his position. To the fishermen among them, however, He said, “I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19b). Therefore, fishing is also an occupation approved by God.
Luke was a doctor (Col. 4:14a) and Paul made tents (Acts 18:3). Tent making differs from fishing in that it is a productive job. While farming is a direct type of labor, the work of spinning, weaving, cutting or sewing tents includes an additional step in labor process and, therefore, belongs to the productive types of labor.
For many of you, this year will be your last year at school or high school. You have to make one of major elections in life - the choice of profession. How seriously and deliberately you approach this determines your future, the direction of your activities, your future aspirations, and even satisfaction and happiness in life. Too many young people do not think seriously about choosing a profession and, as a result, their hopes collapse. Work becomes a hateful yoke for them.
Ordinary life story
I graduated from the institute with a degree in civil engineering. When it was time to choose a profession, I chose this university because it was close to home and because it was my father who advised me to do it. I remembered that as a child I enjoyed building in kindergarten house made of cubes and decided to learn how to design real houses. Very soon I realized that this is not what I would like to do in life. But it was a pity to leave the institute, it was a pity for the years spent on study, and I decided to complete my studies. Five years later, having received the coveted diploma, I was able to work as an engineer at a construction site for only six months. Every day of work brought me the strongest mental anguish. Life has become a nightmare. I realized that my rash choice brought me only disappointment. I hated this job and quit soon after. I had to look for another job that at least did not cause me dislike. Soon I got married. My husband and I came to the Lord. Children were born, and when they grew up a little, I really wanted to get a specialty again. Now I seriously approached the choice and, after analyzing my abilities and talents, I decided to study as a midwife. However, this was very difficult to achieve. Firstly, our three small children needed my constant presence and care for them, secondly, a considerable amount of money had to be paid for a second education, and thirdly, I had already forgotten a lot from the school curriculum. I had to abandon this venture. Years passed, and I was never able to truly realize myself in life. Where I would like to work, I simply lacked knowledge and experience. It was only through the grace of God that I could find happiness and joy in serving people in the church. But even this ministry would be much more effective if I had certain professional knowledge and skills.
False prerequisites for choosing a profession
Many are guided by the wrong principles of choosing a specialty: prestige, high salary, the desire of parents or the ease of admission to a particular educational institution, the preference to work in an office, rather than work physically.
Let's analyze all this in the light of the Bible.
Desire to have a prestigious profession
What professions are in fashion today? A few decades ago, many boys dreamed of being astronauts and pilots, and girls - flight attendants. Today, fashion has changed, and the professions of a computer engineer, sales manager, lawyer are prestigious ... Naturally, competition for the specialties of economics, management, law, software and so on. is the highest. To have a prestigious profession and a prestigious place of work, to succeed in life, to be professionally superior to others, to have higher wages - these motives drive many people.
Jesus saw such aspirations in His disciples, and it grieved Him greatly.
“I came to Capernaum; And when he was in the house, he asked them, What were you discussing among yourselves on the way? They were silent; because on the way they argued among themselves who was greater. And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, Whoever wants to be the first, be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mark 9:33-35).
Jesus invites you to choose a profession to serve people and God. This principle must come first. The Creator himself, while on earth, learned the craft, working in a carpentry workshop with Joseph. He gives us a great example of understanding the right motivation in choosing a profession.
Preference to work in an office rather than work physically
For some reason, it is generally accepted that mental labor is more honorable than physical. Parents can say to their children: “If you don’t study well, then you will go to the janitors or you will wash the floors.” Such intimidation leads young people to disparage physical labor, as if the people involved in it are on the bottom rung of society. If a child studies well at school, then he is immediately offered to study at an institute or university, that is, subsequently to engage in mental work. And if the academic performance is average, then they are sent to study in college, while sometimes saying: “If you can’t think with your head, work with your hands.”
In real life, working people who are real experts in their field are also highly valued, and sometimes even more than those who work in the bureau. Always and everywhere conscientious, hardworking, responsible specialists who are also masters of their craft are highly valued. Moreover, if this worker, on top of everything else, is a Christian who has no bad habits, then its value is doubled. Everyone needs a professional locksmith, builder, plumber, turner, mechanic and even a cleaning lady.
Jesus was a carpenter. It was not the most promising specialty at that time. But “By His example, He teaches us to be diligent, to do the work neatly and carefully, for honest work is honorable. Exercises, by which the hands become more skilful, prepare the youth to endure the hardships of life, develop the physical strength and abilities of a person. Everyone should find some business useful for himself and for others. God intended work to be a blessing to man, and only a diligent worker finds the true joy of life.(Desire of Ages, 72).
When Parents Make Choices
As a rule, parents advise their children to study where they themselves would like to study if they could turn back the clock. This is their unfulfilled dream. To take into account their advice or not depends on the arguments that parents give for choosing a particular specialty. If your parents see your abilities and associate them with the prospect of working in the service of God and people, then such advice should be heeded. Otherwise, Scripture calls us to obey God rather than man (see Acts 4:19).
Go where there is less competition
By doing this and not taking into account your talents, you are programming your life as the life of a loser. We spend a significant part of our lives at work. If the work is unloved, it leads to fatigue, dissatisfaction and boredom. It is worth thinking about this in advance, before you have already become a student of some educational institution.
High profit payment
For most young people, this is an important point when choosing a profession. Many people dream of having their own home, car, furnishings, travel and leisure facilities. Therefore, from the proposals on the labor market, the most high paying job even if it does not meet the requirements of God. The pursuit of money leads Christians to apostasy from the truth and spiritual fall. I know a few sisters from the church who have been distributing Mary Kay cosmetics. They have made significant progress in selling these products, their wage increased, probably in proportion to their spiritual decline. But does God approve of the use decorative cosmetics? Maybe He approves of the pursuit of wealth? Remember the young man whom Christ invited to follow Him, but he departed from Him and “…was sad because he was very rich. Jesus, seeing that he was sad, said: How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:22-25).
Wealthy people tend to get so attached to their wealth that they lose sight of God and eternal life.
The main steps in choosing a profession
What principles of choosing a profession should a Christian be guided by?
1. Analyze what talents the Lord has given you. What subjects do you find easier in school? In what areas did teachers mention your talent?
Often, when choosing a profession, the state of health should also be taken into account: in modern industry there are many enterprises in which the atmosphere is such that even good health is quickly destroyed.
Miners most often have heart attacks, respiratory diseases, they are more likely to get into accidents. Due to constant contact with chemicals, hairdressers are very familiar with allergies, they often develop respiratory diseases, varicose veins, arthritis, and spinal problems. Drivers have a vibration disease, sciatica. When choosing a profession, think about what occupational diseases it can lead to.
2. Make a list of jobs that you enjoy. What professions are you most interested in? In what areas do you strive not only for results, but are you also interested in the process of work itself?
3. Analyze how you can serve the Lord and people through these professions. Where (at what enterprises) you can subsequently work.
Always remember that God has given you talents to serve Him!
4. It is advisable to have an internship at an enterprise in the chosen profession during the holidays for 1-3 weeks. During this time, you will be able to fully assess whether you like this job or not, see all its pros and cons. Ask yourself: “Will it bring me satisfaction and joy?”
If you are a shy and uncommunicative person by nature, then most likely you will not be able to work as a secretary, teacher, manager.
If you are by nature an active, mobile person, and painstaking, concentrated work makes you discouraged, then you will not make a good accountant or economist.
5. Find out what kind of work schedule people working in this specialty usually have. Will it suit you? In a number of industries, features technological processes are such that it is impossible to perform them in single-shift mode. These include, for example: continuous production (such as a blast furnace, in which furnaces operate continuously for several years, and an unscheduled stop is tantamount to a major accident). Emergency services - fire, rescue, medical. Enterprises of the service sector, trade. In such cases, shift work is organized.
In addition, such enterprises require work on the Sabbath day. The Lord calls us to be wise and prudent. Do not choose a profession where you are bound to be tempted to break the day of the Lord.
“God gave man six days to work for himself, but left one day on which people should give Him special honor. He must be glorified, and His authority respected... The Sabbath was created for the good of man, and the deliberate violation of the holy commandment, which forbids labor on the seventh day, is a crime in the eyes of Heaven, which in the law of Moses was recognized as so serious that it required the death of the violator. But this is not the whole punishment, there is the most terrible punishment - for God will deprive the criminals of His law of eternity. The transgressor will have to taste the second death, which is the full and final punishment for those who transgressed the Law of God.(Testimonial for the Church 1, 532-533).
7. Choose an educational institution closer to home so that you can live with your family. Very often, young people who leave for another city and live in a hostel with educational institution soon fall under the influence of worldly comrades to such an extent that they forget God and plunge into a sinful life.
“Those who study medicine in secular schools should especially beware of the evil influences to which they are constantly exposed. When teachers are worldly, sophisticated people, and fellow students are unbelievers who do not seriously think about God, even experienced Christians risk being influenced by these unbelieving people. However, some took the course of medicine and remained true to the principle. They did not study on Saturdays and proved that people can become qualified doctors and not disappoint the expectations of those who encouraged them to get an education.(Advice to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 479).
The Cause of God needs specialists of various profiles, however, not all in a row, but only those who have really dedicated themselves, their time, their lives to service. God needs those who trust Him with their lives and do not pursue high salaries or prestigious jobs.
“Remember that in whatever position you serve, by your attitude to your duties and to people you testify to your goals and motives and develop your character. Whatever work you do, do it with precision, accuracy, and diligence; don't look for easy tasks"(Ministry of Healing, 499).
And in conclusion, I would like to tell you, dear friends: "Today we hear a lot about "higher education", but the true " higher education"gives He, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3; Jn. 1:4). "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." "Whoever follows Me," says Jesus, "will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."(The Desire of Ages, 465).
“And Jebosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Phalti, the son of Laishev. And her husband went with her, went on and wept and wept, until Bahurim. Then Avenir said to him: go back! And he returned” (2 Kings 3:15-16).
Galim (which is also mentioned in the book of the prophet Isaiah) was then in the possession of the tribe of Benjamin, northeast of Jerusalem. Bahurim (who is also named in the description of the rebellion of Absalom) was near Jerusalem from the east. The speech, therefore, was about the path of several kilometers to the south, which was passed by Faltiy for his wife, "walked and wept and wept" until he was ordered to return, "and he returned."
Every time I come to this passage, I think about its characters, its syntax and rhythm, and the writer who wrote it. We know nothing about Phaltia, except that Saul gave him Michal, David's wife, and when David demanded her return, he followed her, weeping, to Bahurim. He was probably from the tribe of Benjamin, judging both by the place of residence and by his acquaintance with Saul. But we do not know whether he was a shepherd or a tree planter, a carpenter or a textile merchant, whether he was young or old. Was Michal his only wife or did he have others? One way or another, Joshua went down in history as the conqueror of the Country, Solomon - as the wisest of people, and Faltiy - as a man who followed his wife, "went and wept and wept, until Bahurim." If the reader has a sensitive heart, he weeps with this person, and not only out of compassion, but also, as always in great literature, also because How it's said. The grammatical construction used here (in the original), which is strictly transmitted only by repetition: “I walked and kept crying and crying” (instead of just “walking and crying”) - is found in several other places in the Bible. Samson, having taken honey from the mouth of a dead lion, "went and ate and ate everything." The oxen dragging the wagon with the Ark of the Covenant "walked and roared and roared." The waters of the flood "keep coming and going" and then "go back and forth." And throughout the Bible, this repetition is used to reinforce and emphasize the duration of what is happening: “I walked and wept and wept…”
I imagine this picture. Abner rides at the head of a small column, stroking his spear with his hand, the very one that he plunged into the stomach of Asail, the son of Sarui, and from time to time, when the path widens a little, as it happens on mountain paths, or forks, in order to soon reconnect, he rides flush with the column; Michal, silent, tensely upright (I always imagine her that way, with a very straight back), sits on a calm donkey, which David sent specially for this. Do not look for this donkey in the Bible, it is not there, but I have no doubt that it was and that it was a very calm donkey, David would not allow Michal to ride the first donkey that came across and, of course, did not go on foot, because he demanded that she be returned, because she was the daughter of the king, and now she will be the wife of the king. Such a woman is supposed to sit only on donkeys from the palace stables, and this order must not only be carried out, but carried out so that everyone can see.
Several horsemen and foot soldiers guard Michal, and behind, at a distance that is either decreasing or increasing at the behest of Abner, Phaltius, the robbed husband, wanders. He doesn't dare get too close or raise his eyes, and he certainly doesn't try to touch. Everyone is silent. The order and the whole situation as a whole does not give pleasure to anyone. Only the muffled, endless sobs of Falthius and the clear, pleasant tapping of hooves along the stony path are heard.
How much love is there, how little shame is left and what terrible helplessness - and at the same time not a word about Michal herself, who knows that at this moment she is being taken from a man who loved her more than any other woman in the Bible was loved, and returned to a man who never loved her and does not love her now. To David, whom she loved before and perhaps still loves.
She rides, straightening tensely, without turning around, in silence. Not a word, not a breath, not a sob.
"Step back!" says Avenir.
And she does not see Fultius stop, and does not feel his gaze trembling on her back, as sunbeam. She does not turn around even when he lowers his head and turns back to return to his deserted house. The whole novel is folded here in one biblical verse, and when a sensitive reader reads it, this novel opens its pages before him, and they turn and turn in his heart. One by one.
The first spies
The first profession mentioned in the Bible is the profession of Abel, the son of Adam and Eve, about whom it is said that “Abel was a shepherd of sheep,” that is, a shepherd (Gen. 4, 2). Immediately then, in the same phrase, the first farmer is mentioned - he was Abel's brother Cain. Behind them, shortly before the end of the same chapter, three more "firsts" appear - the cattle breeder Jabal, who is called "the father of those who live in tents with herds", the musician Jubal - "the father of all those who play the harp and flute" and the blacksmith Tubal Cain, whom the Bible calls "the forger of all tools made of copper and iron." Jubal and Tubal Cain are of particular interest to us - these are the first people endowed with professional knowledge, creativity and creative talent that their predecessors did not have. They were the first to break out of the boring circle of human existence described in the first chapter of the Bible, which was reduced to power over animals and plants and to their appetizing devouring.
Tubal Cain was the father of human technology and Jubal the first artist (I am personally glad that we are talking about music), and both of them gave us fantasy, creativity, excitement, soaring above the primitive existence that God assigned to people at their creation.
Further, after the flood, the first hunter is mentioned - King Nimrod and the first builders - the people who built the Tower of Babel. Then, in connection with the arrival of Abraham in Egypt, another type of professionals is mentioned, without which it is impossible to do: “the grandees of the Pharaoh”, that is, ministers, and only after all of the above, finally, does the profession that for some reason is considered the oldest - prostitution. The very word “prostitute” or “harlot” appears for the first time in connection with Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and then in connection with Tamar, the wife of Ir, and in order to remove this slander from their good name, I emphasize that both of them were not actually prostitutes. Dina's brothers, explaining their terrible revenge for her rape, only compared her to a harlot, saying: “How can you treat our sister like a harlot!” - and the widowed Tamar only dressed up as a harlot, and even then because she wanted to get pregnant from her father-in-law Judah in order to continue his family (Gen. 38).
In the story of the sale of Joseph into slavery, merchants first appear, and then, already in the story of Joseph's life in Egypt, various officials, priests and advisers are mentioned. Joseph himself receives the title of “second after the pharaoh”, that is, “vice-pharaoh”, and he also mentions for the first time the profession that I want to talk about in more detail - the profession of “spy”, that is, scout, scout or spy.
“You are spies,” Joseph accuses his brothers when they come to Egypt in times of famine, “you have come to look out for the nakedness of this land!” (Gen. 42:9).
We understand from this that espionage is also an ancient profession, if it was already so well known, and therefore widespread in the Middle East even in those days, and that spies and spies were already doing what they do today: secretly collecting information. The biblical language of Josephus uses a beautiful erotic image to describe their activities - scouts come to "spy out the nakedness of the earth", that is, to reveal something forbidden for viewing. Peeping and nudity are usually associated in the Bible with sexual contact, which, as we already know, is also called "knowledge." It turns out that espionage has a direct connection with knowledge (that is, again with information), and this is confirmed by the words of Joab, the son of Sarui, who accused Saul’s commander Abner, the son of Nirov, of spying intentions, assuring David that Abner’s visit to Hebron was aimed at “learning your exit and your entrance” (2 Kings 3, 25). In our time, this recognition, or knowledge, has already been hidden inside the dry word "intelligence", but it is nice to remember its first steps.
Craft I. PRELIMINARY REMARKS
In Gen. 4 Tubal Cain is called the first "forger of all tools made of copper and iron", nevertheless, about some specialization of Israel. craftsmen can be said, apparently, only from the time of their stay in Egypt. R.'s development presupposes a sedentary way of life, but in the conditions of nomadic pastoralism, we can only talk about their beginnings. Among the peoples surrounding the Israelites, primarily among the Egyptians and Babylonians, developed R. existed already in the 4th-3rd millennia. BC, as evidenced by the products of artisans found during excavations, often executed with amazing. perfection. The Israelis probably gradually adopted the skills of R. from their neighbors, and then they themselves reached high skill. It is very likely that the heavy physical work, at least until the time of the reign of King Solomon, the Israelites had the advantage. on slaves, but then entered the category of occupations of a free man. As you know, all the famous rabbis and scribes, incl. and app. Pavel, were engaged in Ph.D. R.; this distinguishes the Israelis, for example, from the Greeks, who have a physical labor was considered an occupation unworthy of a free man. A number of signs indicate that R. was transmitted to Israel. families by inheritance, that a whole clan could be engaged in the same R. and that, apparently, already in the Old Testament times there were corporations like workshops or guilds (see ; ; ). II. TEXTILE PRODUCTION
The need of people for clothes allowed textile production among the first to stand out in an independent industry. Although spinning and weaving for a long time belonged to domestic, especially women's, occupations and virtues (), it is in this area that one can find a rather early specialization. In any case, during the time of the kings, the Israelites already had centers of textile clothing, for example. in Debir, where during excavations archaeologists found numerous. traces of weaving and dyeing workshops. SPINNING. Spin Ch. way wool. Clutching a piece of wool with her hand, the spinner with her right plucked shreds from it and with the help of a large and pointed. fingers twisted them into a thread, which she then wound around a spindle (), a thin wooden stick approx. 30 cm, at the upper end of which a block of stone, clay or bone was attached, which made it possible to increase the centrifugal force. Rotating and releasing the spindle, the spinner twisted the thread and wound it onto the rod. The Egyptians knew how to make a thinner thread than the Israelites: there is evidence that from a heap of wool weighing 0.5 kg they could spin a thread up to 90 km long. WEAVING. A cloth was made from the obtained threads using a loom. The machines were first installed horizontally, and later vertically; in large workshops looms fastened to the ceiling (;). ( ⇒ Weaver.) In 1Par. 4 It speaks of the families of the tribe of Judah, who “made fine linen,” thin linen. However, it is known that the Israelis made mainly coarse linen, while fine linen was imported predominantly. from Egypt. The Israelites wove cloth from ⇒ the flax which is grown up hl. manner in Palestine. The technology for making linen fabric was as follows. From the cut stems, the seeds were first knocked out, approximately the same as when threshing. Then the stems were dried in the sun (see), after which they were immersed in water for a week to separate the inner soft fibers from the hardened part. Then the stems were again dried, pulled, splitting and separating the fibers, sorted and combed. Thus received the fiber was spun in the same way as wool. MANUFACTURING OF TENTS. Weavers who made tents recycled ch. in the manner of goat hair, a linen was made from it, which was then sewn together. The material of the panels was similar to felt. This R., as you know, was also done by Pavel (). BLEACHING. R. whitewashers (; ; ) was akin to R. dyers. Cleaners, cleaning linen or garments, trampled them with their feet in large vats, where detergents were added. the main task bleachers was to degrease the sheared wool and clean it of dirt, thus bringing it to whiteness ( ⇒ Whitewasher). DYEING. The dyers used stone vats and pails about 1 m high and in diameter. The vats had an opening on top of approx. 15 cm, framed by a chute for draining the dye, so that none of the expensive substance (wasted). During excavations next to such vats, archaeologists found the remains of slaked lime and potash. The color scheme did not differ in variety, more often than other colors were used ⇒ purple and ⇒ purple. Later, Thyatira in Asia Minor () became the center of purple dyeing. Probably, dyes were also known to grow. origin to obtain yellow and red flowers. LEATHER (TANNING) PRODUCTION. Craftsmen who processed leather are mentioned, for example, in; in, which refers to dyed skins, R. kozhevnikov is also implied. ⇒ Leatherworker ⇒ Leather. III. CONSTRUCTION R. as an independent branch appeared among the Israelites not earlier than the era of King Solomon. To build the temple and his palaces, Solomon invited Phoenician builders (), from whom the Israelites probably learned how to build. R. Due to the fact that the cost of stone processing was very high, the upper part of the houses was often built from cheaper brick, clay or wood. ⇒ House, building a house ⇒ City ⇒ Fortress. MANUFACTURING OF BRICK. The Israelis were engaged in the production of bricks while in Egypt. slavery(). This R. itself means. it was previously known in Mesopotamia, which can be judged from the story of the construction of the Tower of Babel (). In Is. 9 also refers to bricks, intended. for construction. The OT says little about Israel. brick-making technology, but it was probably similar to the Egyptian one. Clay for strength was mixed with straw, less often with ceramic. shards and small stones. It was kneaded by adding water, and then the molded bricks were laid out on a flat area sprinkled with straw so that they would not stick to the ground. Bricks were molded in a portable wooden mold and left to air dry for 2–3 days. Then, for further drying, they were stacked and left in the sun for another 2-3 weeks, after which they became suitable for construction. Often on the bricks you can see the brand - the prints of the kings. the name or name of the building for which they were intended. The indentations made by the fingers on the still damp bricks contributed to the better bonding of the bricks to the mortar. The bricks reached a size of 50 x 25 x 10 cm, i.e. were mean. larger than modern ones. Bricklayers (; ) laid the walls of houses out of bricks, and the Israelis knew how to bind the brickwork and fill the voids with earth or rubble, but they did not know the technique of laying the vault ( ⇒ Mason). STONES () in the quarry hewed the repulsed from the rock. soft limestone blocks, while demonstrating amazing accuracy. Often the stones were processed at the joints, creating a flat surface, while the outer faces were made convex. During construction, they used a level, a plumb line with a measuring rope (; ; ). The hewing line was marked with red chalk, traces of which were found on stones during excavations. The stone blocks of the large gates in Megiddo are fitted one to the other so tightly that it is impossible to stick a knife blade between them. In, apparently, work is meant that is similar to the work of PLASTERS. The surface of the wall was coated with a mixture of clay and lime, probably to close the existing cracks. In the New Testament era, tombs were whitewashed in this way, marking them so that c.-l. accidentally not defiled by touching them (see ; ). Woodworking, both in construction and in the manufacture of utensils, was carried out ⇒ CARPENTS (; ; ). It is impossible to establish whether the Lumberjacks () constituted a separate group. Wood carvers are mentioned in the historical books of the VZ in connection with the manufacture of internal. the decoration of the tabernacle (), and in the books of the prophets - in connection with the manufacture of idols (- in the Synod. Lane - "carpenter"). Perhaps here we are talking about carpenters, who at the same time. were carpenters.
It is not known whether the profession of TUNNER existed in the Old Testament era. It has only been established that, for example, during the reign of Hezekiah, an underground tunnel 550 m long and up to 1.80 m high was laid in Jerusalem. Traces of a pick are visible on its walls. Similar structures were found in Megiddo. IV. PRODUCTION OF FOOD PRODUCTS Of the R. associated with this type of human activity, in the Bible, only BARKERS (bakers) (;) are named as a separate group. ( ⇒ Bread.) Despite the fact that every housewife ground grain, R. MELNIK probably also existed, since bread was baked not only at home, but also in bakeries. ⇒ Mill, grind. V. METALWORKING With the art of metalworking, the Jews, judging by, met in Egypt. It follows that the Philistines were monopolists in the field of iron processing in Canaan, and this monopoly was broken only as a result of the victory of Saul. Only since that time did metal-working R. begin to develop among the Israelis. Place of Birth iron ore were discovered in the Arava valley, originally. belonged to Edom. Having conquered this region, the center of which was ⇒ Ezion-geber, a port city on the Red Sea, King Solomon commanded to create industrial production, which became the largest at that time in the Middle East. From the Book of Job () some details are known about the extraction of ore. The mined ore was remelted, as scientists believe, in large smelting furnaces, and constantly blowing sowing was used to inflate and maintain the fire. wind. stoked stoves charcoal, for which wood was delivered from nearby forests. The resulting iron was subjected to further processing, and copper was cast into ingots. Note in probably refers to similar metalworking. The tin necessary for the production of bronze is not found in Palestine and was probably imported. ( ⇒ Lead ⇒ Iron ⇒ Gold ⇒ Silver ⇒ Tin.) In 1 Kings. 7 speaks of CASTERS who made bronze (or copper) utensils for the temple; they used recesses "in the clay earth" as molds. The masters, called Heb. word kharash(; - in the Synod. lane in both cases - "carpenters"), probably engaged in the processing of wood, metal and stone. Advantage Blacksmiths, in particular blacksmiths for iron and copper, as well as for gold and silver, were engaged in metalworking. SMITH FOR IRON. Their tools were a hammer, an anvil, tongs and nails (), as well as a bellows for blowing fire (). Blacksmiths made weapons, tools, household and agricultural utensils. inventory. B shows how the ore was smelted to obtain pure metal, which was then molded, forged and straightened ( ⇒ Weapons and tools). COPPER smiths, or "coppermen" (), processed copper in approximately the same way. They mastered the art of foundry, knew how to obtain sheet copper by forging, polish it and make highly artistic pieces of it. products, incl. and vessels. GOLD AND SILVER smiths, whose art has been known in Egypt since ancient times, and in Babylonia it flourished already in the 4th-3rd millennium. BC, made predominantly. jewelry and valuable household items for the king. palaces and sanctuaries, and later - for wealthy people. Such blacksmiths (“silversmiths”) are mentioned in. Otherwise, they are named in it, it is shown that the suit of these masters means. The measure was also used in the manufacture of idols. Blacksmiths have already mastered soldering and welding. Archaeological finds testify that gold leaf processing craftsmen could create unusually beautiful things, distinguished by fine workmanship. ⇒ Decorations. VI. OTHER CRAFTS About the most ancient, along with weaving, R. GORSHECHNIKOV ⇒ Potters. As a special professional group, it is worth noting mirovarnikov ( ⇒ COMPONENT OF THE SUIT). These artisans prepared ointments, mastic oils, incense, incense and spices. They not only supplied the king with their products. courtyard and temple, but also traded it. Despite the absence of c.-l. indications, it can still be assumed that there were professions of shoemakers and tailors. VII. ARCHITECTURE, DECORATION OF TEMPLE AND MANUFACTURING OF Utensils Art by its nature is closely connected with R. As excavations show, art in some countries of the Middle East, primarily Babylonia and Egypt, reached its peak already in the 4th-3rd millennium. BC, as evidenced by the magnificent buildings, paintings and sculptures, the thoroughness of finishing household items. However, the same cannot be said of Israel's claim. Probably the reason is that, excl. the reign of King Solomon, during which Naib. architecture reached development, the Israelis as a people were mean. poorer than their neighbors. As the historical experience, the development of art depends on the rich ruling house or individual patrons, but the land law in force in Israel prevented the emergence of a large number large owners able to finance the development of claims-va. Another reason was that the Law forbade God's people from worshiping images. The flourishing of the art of neighboring peoples was due to the fact that artists developed their talents by participating in the construction and decoration of temples or creating images of language. gods. Famous. therefore, that in the OT we find references to the arts. activities of artisans, for example. c), where palm trees, floral ornaments and cherubs were depicted; to the cherubim in the Holy of Holies; the same applies to multi-colored bedspreads, embroidered curtains () and clothes ⇒ high priest. In the IX and VIII centuries. BC the highest level of craftsmanship in ivory carving was achieved. Wooden furniture was inlaid with ivory plates with images of plants and animals carved on them. Sometimes pieces of furniture were decorated with wood carvings, drag. stones, covered with gold leaf. It is possible, however, that many of these items were brought from neighboring countries. As the finds show, the assortment jewelry (⇒ Jewelry) from Israel. masters (goldsmiths) was quite rich, but they did not reach the degree of perfection that was inherent, for example, in Egypt. or Greek. masters. Ceramic production ( ⇒ Pot), on the contrary, in the earliest periods reached such a high level that in terms of perfection of forms and richness of painting, even simple household items often surpassed the products of artisans from neighboring countries. It was in the suit of the manufacture of jugs, vases, lamps and other similar items that Israel. artisans have been the most successful. This once again confirms the fact that the art of the Israelis developed primarily as applied art, and it reached its greatest heights in the decoration of household items, for example. in the richness of ornaments; at the same time, there is no evidence that the Israelites had a developed image. claim in "pure form".
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